JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq — The 37th Engineer Battalion, 190th Engineer Brigade, held a noncommissioned officer induction ceremony at 10 a.m. Oct. 24 at the Morale, Welfare and Recreation east facility at Joint Base Balad, Iraq.
The 37th, out of Fort Bragg, N.C., inducted 73 NCOs at the ceremony.
"These Soldiers are the next breed of NCO for the 37th Eng. Bn. and this event was held to recognize them," said Command Sgt. Maj. Wayne L. Durham, the command sergeant major of the 37th and a Henderson, N.C., native.
"The younger, newly inducted NCOs need to understand how important it is to be a noncommissioned officer," he said. "They have a new responsibility, and that responsibility is to be a leader."
"This ceremony is recognition of the transition from young specialist to an NCO and leader," said Sgt. William S. Wright, a team leader with C Company, 37th Eng. Bn. and a Gainesville, Fla., native.
"I want to continue my progression and pass the wisdom that my NCOs taught me on to my Soldiers, so they can become NCOs," he said.
"These new NCOs need to learn not to be afraid to make mistakes, as long as they learn from them," said Durham.
"They are not going to be perfect, but they strive to be competent at everything they do," he said. "Good leaders learn from their mistakes and don't make the same mistakes twice."
"An ideal noncommissioned officer is an NCO with strong intellect, physical presence, professional capabilities, high moral character and the ability to serve as a role model for subordinates on a day to day basis," said Command Sgt. Maj. Steven B. Winters, the command sergeant major for the 296th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division Stryker Brigade Combat Team and a Fayetteville, N.C., native.
"Noncommissioned officers act decisively according to the intent and purpose of their superior leaders and in the best interest of their organization," said Winters, the guest speaker for the event.
"It takes a special kind of Soldier to be a noncommissioned officer," said Durham. "They have to be able to motivate, give purpose and direction regardless of the situation."